Reversible drive mechanism



1953 s. L. ARENSBERG 2,624,214

REVERSIBLE DRIVE MECHANISM Filed 060. 27, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR STEWART L. ARENSBERE:

ATTORNEY Jan. 6, 1953 s ARENSBERG 2,624,214

REVERSIBLE DRIVE MECHANISM 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Oct 27, 1950 7/ iii/[Avia- XNVENTOR STEWART I... ARENSBERE ATTORNEY TENT OFFICE U ITED STATES 2,624,214 REVERSIBLE DRIVE MECHANISM Stewart L. Arensberg, Collingswood, N. J assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application October 2'7, 1950, Serial No. 192,538 2 Claims. (Cl. 74-665) The present invention relates to a reversible invention, as well as additional objects and drive mechanism for two independently rotatable advantages thereof, will be better understood members, and more Particularly o a imp o from the following detailed description when clutch assembly therefor. read in connection with the accompanying draw- Apparatus for examining portions of a tape, 5 ings in which:

chart, film or other flexible member wound or Figure 1 is a front elevation, in section, of a stored upon a reel, such as that employed in preferred embodiment of the present invention, a editing machines for motion picture film, masportion of the housing being broken away and netic recording tape or wire, or the like, usually showing the clutch assembly in position to drive provide an arrangement whereby the tape or film the rotatable member shown at the left of the can be transferred at will from the storage reel apparatus,

to another reel, also referred to herein as the Figure 2 is a plan view of the sliding coupling take-up reel. In such apparatus, the two reels member in the position shown in Figure 1,

are usually mounted for independent rotation Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, similarto Figabout separate axes and are connected respecure 1, showing the clutch assembly in position to tively to a reversible drive mechanism. Since the drive the rotatable member shown at the right reels will not always rotate at the same speed, of the apparatus, and the apparatus may be arranged to connect only Figure 4-. is .a plan view, similar to Figure 2, of the take-up reel to the source of driving power, the sliding coupling member in the position while the storage reel is allowed to rotate freely. shown in Figure 3. A clutch assembly is usually provided for this Referring. more particularly to the drawing purpose so that an operator can selectively couple wherein similar reference characters designate either one of the reels to the source of driving corresponding parts throughout, there is shown a power and disconnect the other reel. Particular drive mechanism or. apparatus l for transferring advantage is found in providing an arrangement a tape, film or other flexible material}, wound whereby the clutch assembly is automatically upon one of two independently rotatable memoperative in response to the change in direction bers, to the other member. The apparatus 1 of rotation of the reversible drive mechanism. comprises generally a housing or other suitable A primary object of the present invention, support 5 on which two shafts 1, 9 aremounted in therefore, is to provide an improved clutch spaced apart relationfor independent rotation assembly for a reversible drive mechanism for about axes parallel-to each other, the shafts being two independently rotatable members. selectively coupled to a reversible drive (not Another object of the present invention is to shown) by a clutch assembly H also carried by provide a clutch assembly for a reversible drive the housing.

mechanism which is automatically responsive to The rotatable shafts l, 9 comprise driven mema change in direction of rotation of the drive bers which extend through a wall iii ofthe mechanism. housing 5 and are journaled intermediatev their Still another object of the present invention is ends in bearings l5 mounted in the housing wall. to provide a clutch assembly for selectively cou- Spools or reels ll, l9 areflmounted on the ends pling one of two independently rotatable memof the shafts l, 9 externally of thehousing 5 and bers to' a reversible drive mechanism while at the comprise storage and take-up reels for the tape :same time permitting the other member to be or film 3. Bevel gears 2| are secured to the other free to rotate. ends of the shafts l, 9 located within the A further object of the present invention is to housing '5. f provide an improved clutch assembly for a re- Each of the reel shafts l, 9 is driven independversible drive mechanism which is simple in conently by another driven member 23, 25.' The :struction, highly efficient in use and positive in driven member 23 for the reel shaft 1, shown at operation. the left of the apparatus in Figure 1, comprises a The present invention comprises an apparatus shaft journaled intermediate its ends in two bearwhich includes means automatically responsive .50 ings 21 supported within the housing 5. The to achange in direction of rotation of areversible driven shaft 23 has a bevel gear 29 secured to drive mechanism to connect one or the other of one end thereof and is mounted with its axis two independently rotatable members to the normal to the axis of the reel shaft 1 and with drive mechanism. its bevel gear 29 in mesh with the reel shaft The novel features characteristic of the present bevel gear 2 I. v

A drive shaft 3| is mounted within the housing with its axis in alignment with the aXis of the driven shaft 23. The driven member for the other reel shaft 9 comprises a cylindrical sleeve having a bevel gear 33 secured to one of its ends. The drive shaft 3| extends coaxially through the sleeve member 25, and is supported in spaced relation to the drive shaft by two bearings which are disposed between the drive shaft 3| and the sleeve member 25 adjacent the ends of the latter. The bearings 35 permit the drive shaft and sleeve to rotate independently; Like the driven member 23 for the reel shaft 1 shown at the left of the apparatus, the sleeve 25 and drive shaft 3| are disposed with their common axes normal to the other reel shaft 9, shown at the right of the apparatus in Figure 1, and with the sleeve bevel gear 33 in mesh with the bevel gear 2| secured on the other reel shaft 3.

The sleeve member 25 and the drive shaft 3| are journaled in two bearings 31 supported within the housing 5 (only one bearing being shown in the drawings). One of the bearings 31 is arranged to engage the sleeve member 25 adjacent the end remote from the bevel gear 33. The other bearing (not shown) is arranged to engage the drive shaft 3| at a point beyond the end of the sleeve to which the bevel gear 33 is secured and may comprise a thrust bearing to prevent movement of the drive shaft in axial directions. Thus, the two reel shafts 1, 9 are mounted for independent rotation.

The clutch assembly II which connects either one of the reel shafts 1, 9 to the drive shaft 3| comprises two clutch plates 39, 4! attached respectively to the driven shaft 23 and sleeve mem ber 25, and a slidable coupling member 43 car-- ried by the drive shaft 3| and adapted to engage either one of the clutch plates 39, 4| for rotation of the reel shafts 1, 9 and the reels |1, |9. Each of the clutch plates 39, 4| is provided with a plurality of radially disposed teeth or cogs arranged in circumferential spaced array on one side or face thereof. The clutch plates secured to the ends of the driven members 23, 25 opposite the ends to which the bevel gears 23, 33 are attached and are disposed with their toothed surfaces facing each other.

The slidable coupling member 43 comprises a sleeve having a plurality of radially disposed teeth or cogs 41 arranged in circumferential spaced relation on opposite ends thereof. The slidable coupling member 43 is mounted on the drive shaft 3| between the two clutch plates 39, 4|. The coupling member 43 is provided with a longitudinal slot 49 on the inner surface thereof. A key 5| seated in the drive shaft is disposed within the slot 49 to secure the coupling member 43 to the shaft 3| for rotation therewith and yet permit the coupling member to slide freely in axial directions longitudinally of the drive 'shaft. The clutch plates 39, 4| and the sliding coupling member 43 are coaxially aligned and v a time. The teeth 45, 41 disposed on the clutch plates 39, 4| and the coupling member 43 are of ratchet type so that they will provide a one-way drive for the respective driven members 23, 25.

In order to selectively drive one of the reel shafts 1, 9 at a time, the sliding coupling member 39, 4| are.

The selective driving means includes a diagonal slot 53 in the outer surface of the slidable coupling member. An annular member or collar 55 having a stud 51 projecting radially inwardly therefrom is mounted on the coupling member 43 with one end of the stud disposed in the diagonal slot 53. A roller 58 is provided on the end of the stud 51 disposed within the slot 53 to minimize frictional restraint between the stud and the coupling member. The collar 55 is independently rotatable with respect to the coupling member 43 to an extent limited by movement of the stud 51 in the slot 53. The collar 55 is biased into engagement with a stationary wall surface 59 provided by a partition 6| in the housing 5. A coil spring 63 is provided for biasing the collar 55 into contact with the wall surface 59. The spring 63 is disposed around the coupling member 43 in spaced relation thereto and is compressed between the collar 55 and another collar 55 mounted for independent rotation on the driven shaft 23 between the clutch plate 33 and the bearing 21 adjacent thereto.-

The drive mechanism of the present invention will be found to operate in the following manner. Regardless of the direction of rotation of the driven shaft 3|, the slidable coupling member 43 will rotate simultaneously therewith. As soon as the driven shaft 3| is rotated, the collar 55 and stud 51 mounted on the coupling member 43 will be held stationary momentarily by reason of the frictional contact between the collar and the stationary wall surface 59. The tendency of the stud 51 to remain stationary will cause the cam surface of the coupling member 43 provided by the diagonal slot 53 to bear against the stud and move the coupling member longitudinally on the drive shaft into engagement with one or the other of the clutch plates 39, 4| depending upon the particular direction of rotation of the drive shaft.

As seen particularly in Figure l of the drawing, the apparatus illustrates the position of the parts when the drive shaft 3| is rotated in the direction of the arrow A. The coupling member 43 will, of course, rotate in the same direction .as the drive shaft and cause the coupling cam surface 61 to bear against the roller 58. This will move the coupling member 43 in the direction of the clutch plate 33 attached to the driven shaft 23. The extent of longitudinal movement of the coupling member is limited by the clutch plate 39. Once the coupling member engages the clutch plate the two collars 55, and the coil spring 63 will rotate with the coupling member. Thus, the driven shaft 23 will be rotated in the same direction as the coupling member and drive shaft. This will cause the reel drive shaft 1 to rotate in the direction of the arrow B so that the reel l1 mounted thereon will function as a take-up {reel for the film 3. It will be noted, in this case, that the clutch plate 4| attached to the driven sleeve 25 is not engaged with the coupling member 43 so that the sleeve, the other reel driven shaft 3 and the reel l9 will be free to rotate.

If, however, the direction of rotation of the drive shaft 1 is reversed, as shown by the arrow C in Figure 3 of the drawing, the coupling member 43 will again rotate with the drive shaft. The clutch plate 39 will not be driven by the coupling member since the teeth on these two members are arranged to drive the clutch plate only in one direction, and the coupling member will be moved away from the clutch plate 39 by the action of the stud 51'and roller58. As shown particularly in Figure 4, the cam surface 69 of the coupling member provided by the slot 53 will bear against the roller 58. The stud and roller being held stationary momentarily by friction between the collar 55 and the wall surface 59 will move the coupling member 43 into engagement with the clutch plate 4| secured to the sleeve 25. Thus, the sleeve will be driven simultaneously with the drive shaft resulting in the reel shaft 9 and reel direction of the arrow D so that the reel 19 will function as the take-up reel while the reel 11 will be free to rotate and function as the storage reel.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a simple drive mechanism whereby only one of two independently rotatable members will be driven when the drive shaft is rotated in either direction. In addition thereto, the present invention provides a novel arrangement whereby reversal of direction of rotation of the drive shaft will automatically shift the drive from one to the other rotatable member.

Although only a single embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described herein, it should be obvious to those persons skilled in the art that modifications and changes are possible within the spirit of the invention. For example, the apparatus bevel gears 2|, 29, 33 may be arranged to drive the reel shafts I, 9 in other directions than those indicated herein. Other changes of like nature will undoubtedly suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is desired that the particular form of the present invention described herein shall be considered as illustrative and not as limiting.

What is claimed is:

1. A reversible drive mechanism comprising a support, two shafts journaled in said support and being mounted for independent rotation, two driven members journaled in said support, said driven members being coaxially mounted, one of i9 being driven in the,

said driven members comprising a shaft, the other of said driven members comprising a sleeve, means connecting each of said driven members respectively to individual ones of said first mentioned shafts for transmitting -a driving force thereto, a drive shaft extending coaxially through said sleeve, said drive shaft being mounted for independent rotation with respect to said sleeve and adapted to be reversibly driven, means operative in response to a change in direction of rotation of said drive shaft for coupling said drive shaft to only one of said driven members upon rotation of said drive shaft in one direction and for coupling said drive shaft to only the other of said driven members upon rotation of said drive shaft in the opposite direction, and spring biased friction means operatively connected between said last mentioned means and said support for effecting said directionally responsive coupling.

2. A reversible drive mechanism according to claim 1 and wherein said coupling means comprises two clutch plates, each of said clutch plates being secured to separate ones of said driven members, and a coupling member mounted on said drive shaft for rotation simultaneously therewith, said coupling member also being mounted for slidable movement longitudinally on said drive shaft and being disposed between said clutch plates.

STEWART L. ARENSBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 

